Risks - Dumping Syndrome

Dumping syndrome after bariatric surgery is common. It is characterized by shaking, sweating, rapid heart rate, dizziness and severe diarrhea. Sugar and concentrated sweets are frequently the causes of dumping syndrome, but other causes include individual receptiveness to certain types of food such as red meat.

After consuming sugar, it is “dumped” into the small intestines causing a fluid shift from the blood to the small intestines. This is known as an osmotic load. The decrease in blood will cause the heart rate to increase, which will lead to dizziness and lightheadedness. The entry of extra fluid into the small intestine can lead to watery diarrhea. Some other side effects of dumping syndrome are sweating and abdominal pain, and depending on the severity, will have an adverse effect on the patient eating sugars again.

It is a fact that some patients may never experience dumping syndrome, while others will get it from tiny amounts of simple sugar intake. The sugars found in foods such as fresh fruit, dairy, and vegetables are usually not the culprits of dumping syndrome, while highly refined sugar found in juice and candy are much more likely to cause this condition in bariatric patients.

Other precautions to take to alleviate dumping syndrome is to avoid carbonated beverages as it could lead to bloating. Patients should not consume fluids 30 minutes to 2 hours before and after meals, as they can experience vomiting or diarrhea. This can lead to hunger, which may cause patients to snack on food between meals, negating the benefits of the bariatric surgery.

Bariatric Surgery Risks Page